MINECRAFT works so well in Geography because it is a living and changing world itself! The world is a biosphere that is composed of several biomes, each of which includes large communities of plants and animals that occupy a distinct region. These biomes are typically defined by their climate and dominant vegetation and include grassland, desert, tropical rainforest, tundra, and deciduous and coniferous forests. Although biomes only give a small representation of what each one would look like in real life, students begin to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of living in a specific type of one.
Below is just one of the many ways in which you could create a Geography activity using MINECRAFT!
Site and Situation Activity
Key Concepts and Prior Knowledge
Situation is defined as the location of a place relative to its surroundings and other places. Factors included in an area's situation include the accessibility of the location, the extent of a place's connections with another, and how close an area may be to raw materials if they are not located specifically on the site.
Site is the actual location of a settlement on the earth and is composed of the physical characteristics of the landscape specific to the area. Site factors include things like landforms, climate, vegetation types, availability of water, soil quality, minerals, and even wildlife.
Students will have explored these concepts in their geography class. They will have identified some cities around the world with good and poor sites and situations.
Curriculum Expectations
Grade 8 Geography- Patterns in Human Geography
Overall Expectations
- identify the main patterns of human settlement and identify the factors that influence population distribution and land use
- use a variety of geographic representations, resources, tools, and technologies to gather, process, and communicate geographic information about patterns in human geography
Specific Expectations
- identify and explain the factors affecting population distribution
- compare the characteristics of places with high and low population densities
- explain how site and situation influence settlement patterns
Activity
In groups, students are required to create an island using Minecraft. They will be asked to:
1. Choose and create the physical landscape, waterways, elevation, climate, vegetation etc... on their island.
2. Build at least two cities or towns on their island. One with a good site and situation and one with a poor site and situation.
3. Present their island and explain the town/city with the best site and situation and the town/city with the worst site and situation.
To demonstrate their understanding, students will be asked to justify why each town/city has the best/worst site and situation.
Below is just one of the many ways in which you could create a Geography activity using MINECRAFT!
Site and Situation Activity
Key Concepts and Prior Knowledge
Situation is defined as the location of a place relative to its surroundings and other places. Factors included in an area's situation include the accessibility of the location, the extent of a place's connections with another, and how close an area may be to raw materials if they are not located specifically on the site.
Site is the actual location of a settlement on the earth and is composed of the physical characteristics of the landscape specific to the area. Site factors include things like landforms, climate, vegetation types, availability of water, soil quality, minerals, and even wildlife.
Students will have explored these concepts in their geography class. They will have identified some cities around the world with good and poor sites and situations.
Curriculum Expectations
Grade 8 Geography- Patterns in Human Geography
Overall Expectations
- identify the main patterns of human settlement and identify the factors that influence population distribution and land use
- use a variety of geographic representations, resources, tools, and technologies to gather, process, and communicate geographic information about patterns in human geography
Specific Expectations
- identify and explain the factors affecting population distribution
- compare the characteristics of places with high and low population densities
- explain how site and situation influence settlement patterns
Activity
In groups, students are required to create an island using Minecraft. They will be asked to:
1. Choose and create the physical landscape, waterways, elevation, climate, vegetation etc... on their island.
2. Build at least two cities or towns on their island. One with a good site and situation and one with a poor site and situation.
3. Present their island and explain the town/city with the best site and situation and the town/city with the worst site and situation.
To demonstrate their understanding, students will be asked to justify why each town/city has the best/worst site and situation.